Half to hiram w



D. D. GORDON.

CLOTHES RAGK.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 2-6, 1886.

- INVEI VTOB UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

DAVIS D. GORDON, OF STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HIRAM IV. KISTLER, .OF SAME PLACE.

C LOTH ES- RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,373, dated October 26, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVIS D. GORDON, of Stroudsbnrg, in the county of Monroe and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes- Racks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in clothes-racks.

Hithertoin racks in which hinged arms were adapted to be swung to and from the center standard the standard has been round in cross-section, and the base, if formed of pivoted legs adapted to open and close with the opening and closing of the'arms, have been liable to a lateral wrenching movement which has rendered the rack unstable; and in cases in which a broad stationary base has been employed, the rack has occupied too much room when out of use orin packing for shipment.

The object of my present intention is to provide a folding rack which shall be stable, and capable of being folded into asmall compass for packing or storing.

A further object is to provide a convenient, neat appearing, and durable rack.

\Vith these ends in view, my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the rack in position for use, and Fig. 2 represents the same folded.

A represents a standard, square or other angular shape in cross section, preferably square. At its upper end it is provided with a cap, B, to which are pivotally secured the upper end of the arms 0, preferably four in number, one opposite each side of the square Standard.

The cap B is conveniently constructed with a tapered ornamental or neatly finished top,

as shown, and provided with a socket in its lower end adapted to receive the end of the standard A. The ends of thev arms 0 are received in open slots b, in which the ends are pivotallysecured by means of awire, D, which extends around the cap in a groove formed for the purpose, passing through the ends of the arms.

Near the lower end of the standard A the four pieces E,which form the legs of the rack, are pivotally secured, two of them in close proximity tothe sides of the standard, by a bolt, (1, and the remaining two to the faces of the blocks e, which are secured to the opposite sides of the standard to carry the legpieces secured thereto out of the way of the other two leg-pieces when in open adjustment.

On the standard A, between the cap and the legs, is located the sliding collar F, which loosely fits the square standard. WVith the sliding collar F the lower ends of the arms 0 are connected by the connecting-bars G. The bars G are pivotally attached to the arm 0, preferably by means of screws, bolts, or rivets, and are pivotally secured to the collar F ina manner similar to that in which the upper ends of the arms 0 are pivoted to the cap B. The upper ends of the leg-pieces E are connected with the connecting-bars G by the pieces H, the connections with both the leg pieces and connecting -bars being loose or hinge connections. Afinishing-cap, g, is secured to the lower end of the standard.

The outer iaces or edges of the arms 0 are provided with a series of staples, eyebolts, or other suitable attaching devices, by means of which a flexible rope, I, is stretched horizontally around the arms at different heights.

To throw the rack from the adjustment shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the collar F is slid upwardly on the standard, thereby drawing in toward the standard the lower ends of the armsO and simultaneously therewith through the pieces H, drawing both the upper and lower ends of the leg-pieces toward the standard. The weight applied on the ropes I tends to force arms 0 toward the standard, but that movement is directly opposed by the bars G. The said weight at the same time tends to spread apart the lower ends of the leg-pieces, and hence the upper ends of the leg-pieces, which, by means of their connections with the bars G at a proper distance away from the collar F, are prevented from exerting any troublesome effect in drawing down the sliding collar. Again, the tendency which legs arranged as shown have to twist around the standard is entirely overcome by the angular standard, and the rack thereby stands firmly in its position..

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention;

hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly.

to the construction herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a standard, a set of arms pivoted thereto, and a sliding collar mounted on said standard, of bars connecting the lower ends of the arms with the collar, and legs pivoted to the standard and connected to the bars, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding rack, the combination, with a standard, a cap secured thereto and provided with slots in its lower edge, a series of arms adapted to swing freely within the slots, and a wire embracing the cap and passing through 25 the arms, of the sliding collar, the bars connecting the collar and lower ends of the arms, the legs pivoted to the standard, and the pieces connecting the legs and bars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVIS D. GORDON.

WVi tnesses:

OWEN IIUSTON, THoMAs J. KISTL'ER. 

